Power tool combination and synchronization control device

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a power tool combination and a synchronization control device thereof including a first power tool, a second power tool, a signal receiving device electrically connected to the first power tool and a signal transmitting device electrically connected to the second power tool. The signal receiving device has a power switch for controlling the first power tool. The first aid second power tool are synchronously powered-on or powered-off via signal transmission and the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device form independent circuits with the first and second power tools respectively. This makes the power of the power tool combination unlimited by the current capacity of the inlet wires of the power tools and lowers manufacturing costs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 200520073478.3, filed on Jul. 6, 2005. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a power tool combination and a synchronization control device for controlling the power tool combination.

BACKGROUND

Power tools used in combination and a synchronization control device for controlling the power tool combination are known. For example, a known synchronization control device controls a power sander and a vacuum cleaner running in synchronization. Such a synchronization control device is generally arranged in a first power tool (such as the vacuum cleaner) and the first power tool supplies power to a second power tool (such as the power sander) to run synchronously with the first power tool. A switch signal of the second power tool controls the first power tool to be powered-on or powered-off synchronously with the second power tool. However, such an arrangement has a disadvantage. That is, the two power tools are supplied power by a common electrical wire arranged in the first power tool. Therefore, the general working current (power) is limited by the current capacity of the inlet wires on the first power tool. This is especially disadvantageous for countries with low-voltage domestic power supplies. With this arrangement, the electrical wire must be very thick, thereby increasing manufacturing costs.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a power tool combination and a synchronization control device thereof which can control the power tool combination running in synchronization. The power tool combination may be powered by different power sockets and different routes.

The present disclosure relates to a power tool combination including at least a first power tool and a second power tool. The first power tool has a first electrical wire. The second power tool has a second electrical wire. The first electrical wire connects terminally to a first plug. The second electrical wire connects terminally to a second plug. The first power tool is electrically connected to a signal receiving device (e.g., a radio-signal receiving device). The signal receiving device has a power switch for controlling the first power tool. The second power tool is electrically connected to a signal transmitting device (e.g., a radio-signal transmitting device). When the second power tool is activated, the signal transmitting device emits an effective signal, the signal receiving device receives the effective signal, and the power switch of the first power tool is in a conduction state.

The present disclosure further relates to a synchronization control device used for a power tool combination which includes a first power tool and a second power tool. The synchronization control device comprises a signal transmitting device being electrically connectable to the first power tool and capable of emitting an effective signal. A first electrical circuit is formed between the signal transmitting device and the first power tool. The synchronization control device also comprises a signal receiving device being electrically connectable to the second power tool and capable of receiving the effective signal from the signal transmitting device. A second electrical circuit is formed between the signal receiving device and the second power tool. The first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit are insulated from each other and control the first and second power tool to run in synchronization when the signal receiving device receives the effective signal from the signal transmitting device.

The present disclosure further relates to a synchronization control device including a signal receiving device electrically connected to a first power tool and a signal transmitting device electrically connected to a second power tool. The signal receiving device has a power switch for controlling the first power tool, wherein when the second power tool is started, the signal transmitting device emits an effective signal, the signal receiving device receives the effective signal and the power switch is in a conduction state.

The present disclosure has the advantage that first and second power tools are synchronously powered-on or powered-off via signal transmission between the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device. The signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device are formed in independent circuits with the second and first power tools respectively. This makes the power of the power tool combination unlimited by the current capacity of inlet wires and lowers manufacturing costs.

In one embodiment, the synchronization control device comprises:

-   -   a signal transmitting device being electrically connectable to         the first power tool and capable of emitting an effective         signal, wherein a first electrical circuit is formed between the         signal transmitting device and the first power tool; and     -   a signal receiving device being electrically connectable to the         second power tool and capable of receiving the effective signal         from the signal transmitting device, wherein a second electrical         circuit is formed between the signal receiving device and the         second power tool,     -   wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical         circuit are insulated from each other and control the first and         second power tool to run in synchronization when the signal         receiving device receives the effective signal from the signal         transmitting device.

The signal transmitting device may be mounted on the first power tool and the signal receiving device may be mounted on the second power tool.

The signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device may be electrically insulated from each other and mechanically attached to each other.

The synchronization control device may be fixedly mounted to one of the first or second power tools, wherein the signal receiving device and the signal transmitting device may be mechanically connected but electrically insulated from each other and electrically connected respectively to the first power tool and second power tool.

The signal transmitting device may be arranged out of and electrically connected to the second power tool and the signal receiving device may be mounted on and electrically connected to the first power tool.

In another embodiment, the power tool combination comprises:

-   -   a first power tool having a first electrical wire connected         (e.g., terminally connected) to a first plug,     -   a second power tool having a second electrical wire connected         (e.g., terminally connected) to a second plug,     -   a signal receiving device electrically connected to the first         power tool, wherein the signal receiving device has a power         switch for controlling the first power tool; and     -   a signal transmitting device electrically connected to the         second power tool,     -   whereby when the second power tool is activated (e.g., powered         on), the signal transmitting device emits an effective signal,         the signal receiving device receives the effective signal and         the power switch of the first power tool is in a conduction         state (e.g., is powered on).

In one aspect of the disclosure when the second power tool is deactivated (e.g., powered off), the signal transmitting device emits an effective signal, the signal receiving device receives the effective signal and the power switch of the first power tool is in a non-conduction state (e.g., is powered off).

The signal transmitted between the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device may be a radio signal, a supersonic signal or an infrared signal.

The first power tool may have a first power tool housing and the signal receiving device may be mounted on the first power tool housing.

The first electrical wire may have a first section and a second section which are electrically connected to each other via a first connecting plug and a first socket connectable to the first connecting plug, wherein the signal receiving device may be mounted on or located in the first socket.

The signal receiving device may interrupt the first electrical wire.

The second power tool may have a second power tool housing and the signal transmitting device may be mounted on the second power tool housing.

The second electrical wire has a first section and a second section which are electrically connected to each other via a second connecting plug and a second socket connectable to the second connecting plug, wherein the signal transmitting device is mounted on or located in the second socket.

The signal transmitting device may interrupt the second electrical wire.

In one aspect, the first power tool may be a vacuum cleaner, and the second power tool may be a sander.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a signal transmitting device and a power sander; and

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a receiving device for wireless signal and a vacuum cleaner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a power tool combination of the present disclosure includes generally a first power tool 1 and a second power tool 2. The first power tool 1 includes a first electrical wire 11 and the second power tool 2 includes a second electrical wire 12. The first electrical wire 11 is connected terminally to a first plug 5 and the second electrical wire 12 is connected terminally to a second plug 6. The first power tool 1 is electrically connected to a signal receiving device 4 which includes a power switch for controlling the first power tool 1. The second power tool 2 is electrically connected to a signal transmitting device 3. When the second power tool 2 is turned on, the signal transmitting device 3 transmits a signal which is received by the receiving device 4 whereby the power switch of the first power tool 1 is in a conduction state (i.e., is powered on).

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a synchronization control device includes the signal receiving device 4 electrically connectable to the first power tool 1 and the signal transmitting device 3 electrically connectable to the second power tool 2.

Referring to one aspect shown in FIG. 1, the first power tool 1 has a first power tool housing 13 onto which the signal receiving device 4 is mounted. The second power tool 2 has a second power tool housing 14 onto which the signal transmitting device 3 is mounted.

Referring to another aspect shown in FIG. 2, the signal transmitting device 3 is arranged outside of the second power tool housing 14 and interrupts (i.e., is arranged in) the second electrical wire 12 and the signal receiving device 4 is mounted on the first power tool housing 13.

Referring to still another aspect shown in FIG. 3, the first electrical wire 11 has two discrete sections 11 a and 11 b, the first of which 11 a is electrically connected to a first socket 8 via a first terminal connecting plug 10. The signal receiving device 4 is located in the first socket 8. The second electrical wire 12 has two sections 12 a and 12 b, the first of which 12 a is electrically connected to a second socket 7 via a second terminal connecting plug 9. The signal transmitting device 3 is located in the second socket 7. The first socket 8 and the second socket 7 are electrically insulated from each other but mechanically attached to each other in an integral one-piece assembly. This ensures that the signal transmitting device 3 and the signal receiving device 4 are electrically insulated from each other and only a mechanical connection is formed therebetween.

Referring to yet another aspect shown in FIG. 4, the signal receiving device 4 interrupts (i.e., is arranged in) the first electrical wire 11 and the signal transmitting device 3 is located in the second socket 7. The receiving device 4 and the transmitting device 3 are only mechanically connected to each other and electrically connected to the first and second power tool 1, 2, respectively.

The first and second power tools are (for example) a vacuum cleaner and a power sander respectively (e.g., the first power tool 1 is the vacuum cleaner and the second power tool 2 is the power sander). The power sander and the vacuum cleaner are running at the same time via the effective signal transmission between the signal transmitting device 3 and the receiving device 4. Thus the vacuum cleaner can clear debris generated by the power sander thereby saving man-hours.

Referring to the circuit diagram shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the receiving device 4 and the transmitting device 3 of the synchronization control device are formed in independent circuits with the first and second power tools respectively. Thus the power of the power tools in synchronized running are not limited by the carrying capacity of the electrical wires of the power tools. This reduces manufacturing costs.

Referring to FIG. 5, a circuit diagram between the signal transmitting device 3 and the power sander is shown. The circuit is a common circuit and includes a main circuit 15 of the power sander in series with a circuit of the signal transmitting device 3. In the circuit of the signal transmitting device 3, a first power supply circuit 16 supplies power for an integrated circuit 28. An effective signal (namely a start signal or a stop signal) is emitted via a carrier vibration circuit 24, a modulation circuit 25, a filtration circuit 26, and a transmitting circuit 27 electrically connected to one another in sequence. The integrated circuit 28 includes an input circuit 18, a code circuit 19, an output circuit 20, a frequency-generating circuit 21, an oscillator 22 and a time sequence generator 23 which is a common circuit. Meanwhile, the signal transmitting device 3 and the power sander are electrically connected to each other and the circuit of the signal transmitting device 3 and the circuit of the power sander form an integral circuit thereby controlling the starting or stopping of the power sander.

Referring to the circuit diagram formed between the signal receiving device 4 and the vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 6, the circuit diagram is also a common circuit and is composed of a circuit of the signal receiving device 4 and a main circuit 41 of the vacuum cleaner. The circuit of the signal receiving device 4 is mainly composed of a receiving circuit 29, an integrated circuit 38, a motor-controlling circuit 39 and a second power supply circuit 40. The integrated circuit includes an amplifier 30, an oscillator 31, a time sequence generator 32, a signal sampling and code error detector 33, a decoding circuit 34, a latch 35, an output circuit 36 and a logic control circuit 37 which is also a common circuit. The signal receiving device 4 and the vacuum cleaner are electrically connected to each other. The circuit of the signal receiving device 4 and the main circuit 41 of the vacuum cleaner form an integral circuit. Thus the signal receiving device 4 receives the starting signal or the stopping signal emitted from the signal transmitting device 3 and controls the synchronized operation of the vacuum cleaner and the power sander through the integral circuit (i.e., the vacuum cleaner and the power sander are started or stopped at the same time). 

1. A synchronization control device used for a power tool combination which includes a first power tool and a second power tool, the synchronization control device comprising: a signal transmitting device being electrically connectable to the first power tool and capable of emitting an effective signal, wherein a first electrical circuit is formed between the signal transmitting device and the first power tool; and a signal receiving device being electrically connectable to the second power tool and capable of receiving the effective signal from the signal transmitting device, wherein a second electrical circuit is formed between the signal receiving device and the second power tool, wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit are insulated from each other and control the first and second power tool to run in synchronization when the signal receiving device receives the effective signal from the signal transmitting device.
 2. The synchronization control device of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitting device is mounted on the first power tool and the signal receiving device is mounted on the second power tool.
 3. The synchronization control device of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device are electrically insulated from each other and mechanically attached to each other.
 4. The synchronization control device of claim 1, being fixedly mounted to one of the first or second power tool, wherein the signal receiving device and the signal transmitting device are mechanically connected but electrically insulated from each other and electrically connected respectively to the first power tool and second power tool.
 5. The synchronization control device of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitting device is arranged out of and electrically connected to the second power tool and the signal receiving device is mounted on and electrically connected to the first power tool.
 6. The synchronization control device of claim 1, wherein signals transmitted between the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device comprise radio signals.
 7. The synchronization control device of claim 1, wherein signals transmitted between the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device comprise supersonic signals.
 8. The synchronization control device of claim 1, wherein signals transmitted between the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device comprise infrared signals.
 9. The synchronization control device of claim 1, wherein the first or second power tool comprises a vacuum cleaner.
 10. A power tool combination comprising: a first power tool having a first electrical wire connected to a first plug; a second power tool having a second electrical wire connected to a second plug; a signal receiving device electrically connected to the first power tool, wherein the signal receiving device has a power switch for controlling the first power tool; and a signal transmitting device electrically connected to the second power tool, whereby when the second power tool is activated, the signal transmitting device emits an effective signal, the signal receiving device receives the effective signal, and the power switch of the first power tool is in a conduction state.
 11. The power tool combination of claim 10, wherein the first power tool has a first power tool housing and the signal receiving device is mounted on the first power tool housing.
 12. The power tool combination of claim 10, wherein the first electrical wire has a first section and a second section which are electrically connected to each other via a first connecting plug and a first socket connectable to the first connecting plug, wherein the signal receiving device is mounted on or located in the first socket.
 13. The power tool combination of claim 10, wherein the signal receiving device interrupts the first electrical wire.
 14. The power tool combination of claim 10, wherein the second power tool has a second power tool housing and the signal transmitting device is mounted on the second power tool housing.
 15. The power tool combination of claim 10, wherein the second electrical wire has a first section and a second section which are electrically connected to each other via a second connecting plug and a second socket connectable to the second connecting plug, wherein the signal transmitting device is mounted on or located in the second socket.
 16. The power tool combination of claim 10, wherein the signal transmitting device interrupts the second electrical wire.
 17. The power tool combination of claim 10, wherein the first power tool comprises a vacuum cleaner.
 18. A synchronization control device including: a signal receiving device electrically connectable to a first power tool; a signal transmitting device electrically connectable to a second power tool, wherein the signal receiving device has a power switch for controlling the first power tool whereby when the second power tool is activated, the signal transmitting device emits an effective signal, the signal receiving device receives the effective signal and the power switch of the first power tool is in a conduction state.
 19. The synchronization control device of claim 18, wherein the signal receiving device is mounted on the first power tool and the signal transmitting device is mounted on the second power tool.
 20. The synchronization control device of claim 18, wherein the synchronization control device is fixed to one of the first and second power tools and the signal receiving device and the signal transmitting device are mechanically connected to each other and electrically connected to the first and second power tool respectively.
 21. The synchronization control device of claim 18, wherein the signal transmitting device forms a second socket and a second plug and the second power tool has a second connecting plug, wherein the second socket and the second connecting plug are electrically connectable to each other.
 22. The synchronization control device of claim 18, wherein the signal receiving device forms a first socket and a first plug and the first power tool has a first connecting plug, wherein the first socket and the first connecting plug are electrically connectable to each other.
 23. The synchronization control device of claim 18, wherein signals transmitted between the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device comprise radio signals.
 24. The synchronization control device of claim 18, wherein signals transmitted between the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device comprise supersonic signals.
 25. The synchronization control device of claim 18, wherein signals transmitted between the signal transmitting device and the signal receiving device comprise infrared signals. 